How to check a builder licence in any Australian state

Every state and territory keeps its own free register of licensed or registered builders. To check a builder, search their name or licence number on the official register for the state where the work is happening. Confirm the licence is current and covers your job, and that the name matches your quote. Then, before you pay, check the home warranty insurance for your job where the state requires it. A blank result means no matching record was found on the day you searched. It doesn't mean the builder is safe.

Updated 21 Oct 2026 · Sources checked 21 Oct 2026

The 8 states and territories at a glance

Each row links to the official register. The dollar amounts are the thresholds at which each state requires a licence and home warranty insurance, as published by each regulator. BuilderVet's free check covers NSW and Queensland builders only. We don't check builders in VIC, SA, WA, TAS, ACT or NT, so use the official register linked here.

Builder licence registers and home warranty insurance in each Australian state and territory. Sources checked 21 Oct 2026.
State	Regulator	Where to check the licence	Licence needed for	Home warranty insurance	Certificate check
NSW	Building Commission NSW	Verify NSW	Residential building work over $5,000 (incl. GST)	Home building compensation (HBC) cover, work over $20,000	HBC Check
QLD	Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)	QBCC licensee register	Building work valued over $3,300	Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, most residential work over $3,300	Insurance search on a property (owners free)
VIC	Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC)	Find and check a practitioner	Domestic building work over $10,000	Home Warranty, eligible work over $20,000 (contracts from 1 July 2026)	Search insurance for your property
SA	Consumer and Business Services (CBS)	CBS licensing register	Building work (no minimum value stated by CBS)	Building indemnity insurance, $20,000 or more with council approval	Ask the insurer named on your certificate
WA	Building and Energy	WA Online Licence Search	Most work of $20,000 or more needing a building permit	Home indemnity insurance, work over $20,000 needing a building permit	QBE certificate register
TAS	Building Standards Tasmania	Find a licensed tradesperson	Unknown: ask the regulator	No compulsory scheme that we could confirm is operating	None found
ACT	Access Canberra	Licensed builders register	Work that requires building approval	Residential building work insurance or a fidelity fund certificate, some residential work over $12,000	None found: ask for the policy or certificate
NT	Building Practitioners Board	Register of Building Practitioners	Prescribed residential building work over $25,000	Fidelity fund certificate (Fidelity Fund NT), prescribed residential work over $25,000	None found: ask for the certificate

What to check, whichever state you're in

Do these in order before you sign or pay anything, and keep a dated copy of what you find.

The licence is current on the official register for the state where the work is happening. A licence from another state may not show there.
The licence covers your job. Check the class, category or conditions against the work in your quote.
One business, one name. The name on the quote, the contract and the licence should be the same person or company. Check the ABN or ACN on ABN Lookup and the ASIC registers.
Home warranty insurance before payment, where your state requires it for a job of your size. Get the certificate or notice of cover and check it where a lookup exists.
Disciplinary records, where the regulator publishes them: the NSW Fair Trading registers, Queensland's suspended, cancelled and excluded registers, Victoria's Compliance and Enforcement Register and the ACT's disciplinary register.
The deposit, where your state sets a limit. NSW caps it at 10%, South Australia at 5% for domestic work of $20,000 or more, and Western Australia at 6.5% for contracts between $7,500 and $500,000. The ACT sets no limit.

State by state

New South Wales

Search Verify NSW. Residential building work over $5,000 needs a licence, and work over $20,000 needs home building compensation (HBC) cover before the builder can ask for any payment.

Regulator: Building Commission NSW
Check the licence: Verify NSW (Service NSW how-to)
What it shows: the licence holder, licence number, class, status and dates
Licence needed for: residential building work valued at more than $5,000 (incl. GST) in labour and materials, and specialist work such as electrical, plumbing and gasfitting at any value
Insurance: home building compensation (HBC) cover for residential work over $20,000. The builder can't ask for a deposit or any other payment until the cover is in place and you've been given the certificate. Deposits are capped at 10% of the contract price.
Certificate check: HBC Check searches by property address, certificate number, contractor or company. No certificate on record isn't proof there's none, so ask the builder for it.
Go deeper: our free check covers NSW builders, and our HBC check and Build Watch are for NSW builders only. See How to check a NSW builder in 5 minutes, or run our free builder check.

Queensland

Search the QBCC licensee register. Building work valued over $3,300 needs a QBCC licence, and most residential work over $3,300 needs Queensland Home Warranty Scheme cover.

Regulator: Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)
Check the licence: QBCC licensee register. Also see the suspended, cancelled and excluded individuals registers.
What it shows: QBCC says the register gives a complete licence history. A licence search lists the licence classes and status, conditions, and a disciplinary record (directions to rectify, disciplinary action, convictions, infringement notices, demerit points, exclusions or bans).
Licence needed for: building work valued over $3,300, and some work, including plumbing, drainage and gasfitting, at any value
Insurance: the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, run by QBCC, for most residential building work over $3,300 (labour, materials and GST)
Certificate check: an insurance search on a property, lodged through the QBCC portal. It's free if you own the home and $54.84 per search for a prospective buyer.
If you can't find them: QBCC says a contractor who isn't on its register may not be licensed. Call 139 333 to confirm.
Go deeper: our free check covers Queensland builders too. It shows the QBCC licence with the date of the QBCC register file, QBCC suspensions and cancellations since 1 July 2026, and ASIC and ABN records where linked. See How to check a QLD builder, or run our free builder check. Build Watch and our HBC check are for NSW builders only.

Victoria

Search the Building and Plumbing Commission's practitioner search. Domestic building work over $10,000 needs a registered builder. Contracts signed from 1 July 2026 for eligible work over $20,000 are covered by Home Warranty.

Regulator: Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), formerly the Victorian Building Authority
Check the registration: Find and check a practitioner, which leads to the practitioner search. For disciplinary and prosecution action, see the Compliance and Enforcement Register.
What it shows: registration or licence status, the type of work allowed, and any conditions or limits
Registration needed for: domestic building work over $10,000, and work that needs a building permit (such as restumping or demolishing a home) at any value. Some single-trade jobs, such as painting or tiling alone, are exempt.
Insurance: Home Warranty applies to eligible domestic building work over $20,000 under contracts signed on or after 1 July 2026. Earlier contracts may be covered by Domestic Building Insurance (DBI), which was required for work over $16,000.
Certificate check: Search insurance for your property confirms that BPC issued cover, using the policy or notice of cover number.

South Australia

Search the CBS licensing register. Domestic building work of $20,000 or more that needs council approval needs building indemnity insurance before any work starts.

Regulator: Consumer and Business Services (CBS)
Check the licence: CBS licensing register (CBS: find a licence holder). SA building licence numbers start with "BLD".
What it shows: whether a person or company holds a licence for the work. The register sits behind a robot check, so we couldn't confirm which fields it displays.
Licence needed for: CBS says you must hold a building work contractor licence to carry out building work. It doesn't state a minimum value.
Insurance: building indemnity insurance for domestic building work of $20,000 or more that needs council approval. The threshold was $12,000 for contracts made before 10 November 2025. Work can't start until you and the council have the certificate.
Deposit: at most 5% of the contract value for domestic building work of $20,000 or more
Certificate check: SA.GOV.AU says to confirm the policy with the insurer named on the certificate.

Western Australia

Search the WA Online Licence Search. Most building work of $20,000 or more that needs a building permit must be done by a registered builder, with home indemnity insurance for work over $20,000.

Regulator: Building and Energy, part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety
Check the registration: WA Online Licence Search, or download the register of builders, which is updated daily
What it shows: the registration number, current and expired contractors, and any conditions on a registration. Check the name, registration number and licence type together, because a contractor and a practitioner can share a number.
Registration needed for: most building work valued at $20,000 or more that needs a building permit, within the area the law covers. From 1 July 2026, Class 10a buildings valued at less than $50,000 don't need a registered builder.
Insurance: home indemnity insurance (HII) for work over $20,000 that needs a building permit. The builder must take it out in your name before taking any payment or starting work.
Deposit: at most 6.5% of the contract price for contracts between $7,500 and $500,000
Certificate check: QBE certificate register

Tasmania

Search Tasmania's occupational licensing register, which lists current licence holders only. We couldn't confirm that a compulsory home warranty insurance scheme is operating in Tasmania.

Regulator: Building Standards Tasmania (builder licensing was formerly handled by CBOS)
Check the licence: Find a licensed tradesperson (Building Standards Tasmania)
What it shows: current licence holders only. Former licence holders don't appear, and it also lists interstate licensees who have notified the regulator.
Licence needed for: unknown. We couldn't confirm a dollar threshold on an official page today, so ask Building Standards Tasmania.
Insurance: we couldn't confirm that a compulsory scheme is operating. Parliament passed the Residential Building (Home Warranty Insurance Amendments) Act 2023, and it starts on a day to be proclaimed.
Certificate check: none found

Australian Capital Territory

Search Access Canberra's licensed builders register. Work that needs building approval must be done by a licensed builder, and some residential work over $12,000 needs insurance or a fidelity fund certificate before it starts.

Regulator: Access Canberra (licensing and public registers)
Check the licence: Licensed builders register. For disciplinary action, see the disciplinary register.
What it shows: the builder's licence and its class. Check that the class matches the building work.
Licence needed for: building work that requires building approval
Insurance: residential building work insurance (QBE is currently the only authorised insurer) or a fidelity fund certificate (from the Master Builders Fidelity Fund). It's required for some residential work over $12,000, on houses and apartment buildings of three storeys or fewer, and the certifier checks it before work starts.
Deposit: no legal limit in the ACT
Certificate check: we didn't find a public lookup. Ask for a copy of the policy or certificate, and check the builder's name and the cost of the work on it.

Northern Territory

Search the Building Practitioners Board register. Prescribed residential building work over $25,000 needs a registered builder and a fidelity fund certificate.

Regulator: Building Practitioners Board
Check the registration: Register of Building Practitioners (Building Practitioners Board)
What it shows: search by category, registration number or surname or company name. Results list name, contact number, address, category and status.
Registration needed for: prescribed residential building work costing more than $25,000
Insurance: residential building cover, issued as a fidelity fund certificate by Fidelity Fund NT. It's required for prescribed residential work over $25,000 (the threshold was $12,000 for certificates issued on or before 30 March 2026). The builder must have it before getting a building permit or asking you for payment.
Certificate check: we didn't find a public lookup. Ask the builder for the certificate, and contact Fidelity Fund NT with any questions.

Building in NSW or Queensland? Our free check

Our free check covers NSW and Queensland builders, and shows the source and date of each record. For a NSW builder it reads the NSW licence register, ASIC company status and three NSW regulator sources. For a Queensland builder it shows the QBCC licence with the date of the QBCC register file, QBCC suspensions and cancellations since 1 July 2026, and ASIC and ABN records where linked. Two extras are for NSW builders only. Our HBC check shows certificates on record for a NSW site address, for the builders we've checked. Build Watch is A$79 once for a dated record and 24 months of change notices on one NSW builder. We don't check builders in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT or the Northern Territory. We don't rate builders either. We show what the records say.

Check a NSW or QLD builder free

Or: The NSW guide · The QLD guide · HBC on record for a NSW address · Build Watch pricing (NSW builders)

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if a builder is licensed in Australia?

Search the builder's name or licence number on the official register for the state or territory where the work is happening. Each state and territory runs its own register: Verify NSW, the QBCC licensee register in Queensland, the Building and Plumbing Commission's practitioner search in Victoria, the CBS licensing register in South Australia, the WA Online Licence Search, Tasmania's occupational licensing search, Access Canberra's licensed builders register and the NT Building Practitioners Board register. Check that the licence or registration is current, that it covers your type of work, and that the holder is the same person or company named on your quote.

When does a builder need a licence in each state?

It depends on the state. NSW: residential building work over $5,000 including GST. Queensland: building work valued over $3,300. Victoria: domestic building work over $10,000, and some work such as restumping or demolishing a home at any value. South Australia: CBS says you must hold a building work contractor licence to carry out building work. Western Australia: most building work valued at $20,000 or more that needs a building permit. ACT: building work that requires building approval. Northern Territory: prescribed residential building work over $25,000. Tasmania: we couldn't confirm a dollar threshold on an official page, so ask Building Standards Tasmania.

Which states require home warranty insurance, and from what amount?

NSW requires home building compensation (HBC) cover for residential work over $20,000. Queensland requires Queensland Home Warranty Scheme cover for most residential work over $3,300. Victoria's Home Warranty applies to eligible work over $20,000 under contracts signed from 1 July 2026; earlier contracts may have Domestic Building Insurance, which applied over $16,000. South Australia requires building indemnity insurance for domestic work of $20,000 or more that needs council approval. Western Australia requires home indemnity insurance for work over $20,000 that needs a building permit. The ACT requires residential building work insurance or a fidelity fund certificate for some residential work over $12,000. The Northern Territory requires a fidelity fund certificate for prescribed residential work over $25,000. We couldn't confirm that a compulsory scheme is operating in Tasmania.

How do I check a builder's home warranty insurance certificate?

Ask the builder for the certificate before you pay, then check it where the state offers a lookup. NSW: HBC Check, searchable by property address. Victoria: the Building and Plumbing Commission's policy verification, using the policy or notice of cover number. Western Australia: QBE's certificate register. Queensland: an insurance search on the property through the QBCC portal, free if you own the home. In South Australia, confirm the policy with the insurer named on the certificate. We didn't find a public certificate lookup for the ACT or the Northern Territory, so ask the builder for the certificate and contact the insurer or fund named on it.

Which states does BuilderVet check?

NSW and Queensland. Our free check covers NSW and Queensland builders. For a NSW builder it reads the NSW licence register, ASIC company status and three NSW regulator sources. For a Queensland builder it shows the QBCC licence with the date of the QBCC register file, QBCC suspensions and cancellations since 1 July 2026, and ASIC and ABN records where linked. Our HBC check, which shows certificates on record for a site address, and Build Watch (A$79 once, a dated report and 24 months of change notices for one builder) cover NSW builders only. We don't check builders in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT or the Northern Territory. For those, use the official registers on this page.

Does a current licence mean a builder is safe?

No. A current licence shows what the register held on the day you searched. It doesn't tell you about the builder's finances, workmanship or disputes. "No matching record" means the register held no matching record when you searched; it does not mean the builder is safe. Read the records, then ask the builder about anything that doesn't match.

Sources

All checked on 21 Oct 2026. Thresholds change, so confirm the current rule with the regulator before you sign.

Spotted something out of date? Email us at hello@buildervet.au.